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more big canvases ~ {Ontario pet photographer}

6 July 2011 – 10:48 am

as some of you blog-followers already know, scruffy dog is rapidly becoming known for our big, framed canvases.  it thrills me to no end when a client goes big because, from the beginning of scruffy dog, shooting for ‘artwork’ and albums full of memories has always been the goal … and nothing defines ‘artwork’ more than these gallery wrap canvases, set into a deep, contemporary float-frame.

for those of you who stopped by to see us at Woofstock, you’ll remember the above piece … now you can see in a home setting.

this canvas is 22×52″ … at that length, it’s a good fit over a standard-sized couch.

we always recommend anything from 52 – 60″ length for couch size … and quite often a lot of extra work goes into these pieces to gain that extra length.

for over the bed, you’re looking at 52 -60″ as well …

this is a queen-sized bed with a 22×52″ canvas (the frame adds another inch all around) … and again, i prefer developing the image so that we get more length and span across the wall …

… not to mention that the length gives a much more dramatic effect than standard sizes.  (and yes, the scruffies — ms fartypants and goobernuts mcscruffy — do follow me everywhere.)

the workmakship on these professional canvases is impeccable.  they simply can’t be compared with “consumer” canvases.  and the float-frames truly finish your piece, setting it off the wall with that contemporary flair and making it stand out as a piece of art vs. the “naked” look of an unframed, gallery canvas wrap that can often blend into the wall on which it is hanging.

like the canvases, the float-frames are top-quality: solid oak with a stain black finish, and with a unique and truly excellent honeycomb hanging system which allows for a lot of flexibility when hanging.

after these big pieces, the standard sizes almost look small, but not every wall can handle the big ones.  these two are 24×36″ … one with and one without the float-frame …

i’ve had a few clients recently — new and repeat — book sessions specifically with these large canvases in mind, and i’ll share the results of those in the next week or so when i pick up a couple of these pieces from the lab.

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a peek at image development ~ {Ontario pet-exclusive photographer}

2 March 2011 – 1:35 pm

i was going to post a sneak peek of sweet man Barkley, whom i met this past weekend, but while working through his gallery, i took a little extra time on a particular image (as i often do), and thought i’d share a bit of the process here since i always receive so many inquiries and interest in regards to the processing i do.

suffice it to say, shooting a super-fluffy, black dog in a snowstorm is something of a challenge.  and with dog photography, the added challenge of your subject moving in and out of different lighting situations, different backdrops, all within seconds, means that you’re up and down with the exposure value like a jack russel with his first SuperBall.  so, sure, you’re going to get a few images that are perhaps a little over- or under-exposed.  but shooting RAW allows for some rather significant salvage jobs when an image really speaks to you.

so here’s the – literally- blasted original.

what i liked about this image that was so different from the others in the shoot was that Barkley was finally hunting.  he’d caught an air scent of something under some cedars … probably a rabbit … so the moment was fleeting and the grab was fast … thus the overexposure and blown highlights of the snow.  but this kind of thing can often be remedied.  here is the same image worked in Lightroom …

now, most people would think this was fine.  but for me, the image is a little unbalanced.  see, the thing is, with dog shoots, a portion of your shooting is really up to the dog.  unlike couples at an engagement shoot who can be coached into a pose or wee babies that can be propped into the desired positions, with dogs, well, you’ve gotta just know their rhythm, read their energy, and, of course, pray a little.

in this case, everything had pretty much aligned … i knew i could deal with the burned out highlights (as seen in the work above), but how cool would it have been to see Barkley’s tail raised with excitement as he moved forward on the scent, right?  so, i looked to the previous image, shot a mere 1/10 of a second before this.  there’s Barkley’s tail up … the first alert to the scent.

what i don’t like about this image, however, is that his eye isn’t visible, his hunting intensity is not as great as in the first image, and since he’s not yet started to move forward, there’s no motion noted in the snow around his front legs.  but that tail!!!

so, while some photographers might just stop there and offer up the first image, sans tail, i took a few careful moments within Photoshop to do a little extra work on sweet Barkley.

of course, this wasn’t a simple cut and paste.  some rotation was required, then some cloning to clean up the edges, and more cloning to extend the weeds that crossed that poof of a tail.   and in fact, i think this final version carries even more intensity than the original.

but don’t worry, i’ll still share a couple more images as a sneak peek of Barkley tomorrow.

By illona | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (9)

going big ~ {Ontario fine art pet photographer}

14 January 2011 – 10:40 am

a scruffy dog photo shoot is about more than capturing memorable photos of your 4-legger.  it’s more than action shots, lazy home shots and those expressive moments that have your loved one jumping out of the image at you.  a scruffy dog photo shoot is truly is an investment in artwork of your loved one.

of course, although the SDP collections include a full range of prints, digital images, proofs and luxurious coffeetable photobooks, it’s the “wallmounts” that make the biggest statement in your home.  canvas is the Cadillac … put a floatframe on it, and you’ve got yourself a Maserati.  of course, if canvas isn’t your cup of tea, there are other options like floatmounts and standouts which also give you significant wall coverage … and the sky is the limit as far as variety of size. whatever the “mount”, i always advise clients to go for the look they prefer, since each does have their own unique appeal.

still, canvas is the overall, paws-down favorite.  and in the case of canvas and art, more often than not, well, big is truly better.

i should mention that the above bed is a queen-sized, which makes client, sweet old Cassy pretty much life-size.

the workmanship, as with all SDP products, is top-notch …

although  a lot of clients love the look of a ‘naked’ gallery canvas wrap …

… where you can see the image wrap around the edge …

… i do encourage clients to consider the float frame.  it not only finishes the piece, but with the frame acting as a border, it allows the piece to be hung on almost any coloured wall, anchoring the image without fear of it fading into its surroundings because of similar colours to your paint choices.  this way, throughout the years, you can hang your artwork no matter how often you redecorate.

whatever product you choose, going big truly makes a statement, and it turns your images into artwork as opposed to just “a photo of your 4-legger on the wall”.

this is why, when ordering one of the SDP collections, clients receive their collection-discount on any upgrade and upsizing of wallmounts.

…  big truly is better.  and i’m so grateful that my clients recognize and embrace this sentiment as well.  2010 saw some absolutely stunning wall pieces leaving the SDP studio … it was difficult parting with them!  and currently there are more 4′-plus canvases sitting at the lab waiting for pick-up.  if i get a chance, i’ll share those with you as well.  but in the meantime, if you’re planning your order (now or in the future) think big.  measure your walls and calculate the dimensions you’ll need.

trust me, the only regret you’ll have is going too small.

By illona | Also posted in products and promos | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (14)

sometimes the magic’s in the processing ~ {Ontario pet-exclusive photographer}

12 December 2010 – 10:22 am

i’m often asked — when clients see some of the extreme before-and-afters during their consults here at the studio, as well as by other photographers — to share some of my behind-the-scenes post-production work.  and in the past, when i’ve blogged some of the work that is done on the scruffy dog images, viewers are always wanting more.

so, when i can, i will offer up some samples.

while this one of crazy GSP Marlie isn’t what i’d call an “extreme”, it illustrates a typical working of an image.  of course, it definitely goes without saying that the initial image could have been a dozen times better out-of-camera, but this girl was constantly on the move, even in her backyard, and as a result, making changes to the camera’s settings at GSP-speed isn’t always possible.

straight-out-of-camera

this was shot late in the evening, the sun was down and we had NO light – Nikon D3S, 17mm, f4.0, 1/200, ISO 1250.

crop and straighten

i don’t do a lot of cropping of images … preferring to compose in-camera … but when this girl decided to stop briefly, there was no time to adjust my focal range.  just grab the shot.

typical post-work in Lightroom

the finished piece with final working and touching up in Photoshop

again, there’s no miraculous salvage-job with this piece … i’ll share some of those with you in the future on the blog.  this one was pretty typical processing, mostly done in Lightroom, adjusting everything from white-balance to tone curve and colors.  and yes, i always do a little extra work on eyes, mostly with the adjustment brush in LR.

have a great Sunday, everyone.

By illona | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (15)

can i borrow your sky? ~ {Ontario professional pet photographer}

19 July 2010 – 7:46 am

with probably 80% of the scruffy dog images being shot in the great outdoors, throughout all the seasons, Mother Nature definitely plays her hand in the scheduling.  ask any scruffy client who’s anxiously watched first the long-range, then the short-range weather reports … then turned their eyes to the skies, and finally picked up the phone to discuss the logistics of having me drive to Toronto or Hamilton or London.  “So is it raining there right now?” “What direction are the clouds coming from?”

sure, it’s always a gamble, but so far we’ve never gotten wet and it’s always been fun.  and if shoots have to be rebooked, we rebook.  no big deal.  the scruffy dog schedule is laid out specifically to keep room for rain dates.

what we can’t always book for is those perfect skies.  sometimes it’s just flat and overcast.  and quite frankly, that diffused light is the best, but it doesn’t make for a very appealing back drop.  so sometimes i have to get a little crafty to take an image from drab to ‘finished’.

in this case, sweet old man Oswin here was lacking a little zip in his sky …

oswin-346-proof2

so i went to previous client Riley’s shoot and borrowed his sky for a bit … (he didn’t mind. he had lots of sky over those wheat fields)

riley-moore-24-copy1

and voila … the finished piece:

oswin-346-with-sky

and here’s another example:

oswin-325

oswin-325-with-clouds

having said all that, i will admit that i’m something of a purist: although the post work on your finished images is careful and extensive, and i remove leashes and other background clutter on any images that go to print, i generally won’t photoshop in anything that isn’t truly there.  and yes, i’ve had some pretty weird requests, but we won’t go there.  :)

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